Big-time lumberjacks saw off in Haywood

Professional and collegiate lumberjacks from around the East will soon converge on Haywood County to compete in a top-notch woodsman competition.

The Stihl Timbersports Series Mid-Atlantic Qualifier will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 14, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds as competitors vie for a chance to advance to the national championship. The lumberjack series is a fast-paced challenge based on historic logging techniques.

The upcoming event is being hosted by Haywood Community College and its high-caliber lumberjack team. The action will also be aired on national television, with TV time devoted to showcasing the host school.

“Being able to showcase our forestry program on a national level really means a lot to our school and our community,” said Blair Bishop, program coordinator for Forest Management Technology at HCC.

The event will feature both a professional and collegiate competition, trading off on the spotlight throughout the day. Eight lumberjack’s from New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will round out the professional arena, while a hometown lumberjack from HCC tries to out-cut collegiate competition from the region. In total, eight colleges and universities will be attending.

In the collegiate series, the participating universities select their best lumberjacks or jills to chop and saw in four disciplines including the single buck, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop, using professional-sized wood and rules. After competing in each of the disciplines, the competitor with the most cumulative points will earn a $1,000 scholarship and advance to the championship in June.

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